Rudd, 60, is before the New Zealand courts on charges of threatening to kill and possession of methamphetamine and cannabis.

The drummer played on recording sessions for AC/DC’s latest album, Rock Or Bust – which topped the Australian charts on its release – but hasn’t been able to promote the record while dealing with the charges, all of which he denies.

Now the musician says he wants to rejoin his band. “I’m going back to work with AC/DC and I don’t care who likes it or who doesn’t,” he told New Zealand’s One News. “I want my job back and I want my reputation back.”

In a summary of facts released to the media, the prosecution say Rudd made a phone call on 26 September to a man he knew, whose name is suppressed, threatening to kill both him and his daughter. This was consistent with another phone call made by Rudd earlier that morning, the summary said.

The drug charges were laid after police executed a search warrant at Rudd’s home in Tauranga on 6 November. Police say Rudd had 0.71g of methamphetamine and 130g of cannabis in his possession.

Rudd was also charged with attempting to procure a murder when he appeared in court in November, but that charge was dropped by the crown solicitor the following day. Rudd’s lawyer said the charge had done incalculable damage to his reputation and he was considering what remedies he might have.